MANSOR WINS SO WHAT IS THE WRITING ON THE WALL?

As expected by many, unofficial results coming from Penanti seem to show that PKR's Mansor Othman is heading for a whopping victory in the by-election.

Well, this by-election has certainly made headlines in a different way.

Firstly, it is historically the only election with such a low turnout of only 46.15%. Statistically, out of a total of 15,384 registered voters in the constituency, a total of 7,100 people had cast their votes.

At the point of typing this post, counting is taking place in ten polling districts - Guar Perahu, Kuala Mengkuang, Telok Wang, Mengkuang, Sungai Lembu, Penanti, Kubang Ulu, Sungai Semambu, Tanah Liat and Berapit Road.

According to unoffical statistics compiled by Penang PKR, with about 40 percent of votes counted so far - PKR's Mansor Othman had 6,052 votes while Nai Khan Ari won 494 votes while our infamous Madam-Record-Every-Conversation-Aminah Abdullah miraculously managed to secure 392 ( I expected a double digit figure!!!) while Kamarul Ramizu Idris secured 56 votes.

In the 2008 elections, the Election Commission announced a 82.13% voter turnout.

Secondly, it is the only election with tight security and deployed Light Strike Force units armed with batons and shields outside the polling centres where most voters trickled in.

Any ordinary citizen would probably opine that such heavy police presence is quite ridiculous, incurring unnecessary expenses and can be perceived as scaring would-be voters from coming out to vote and also defying international norms.

Thirdly, the Aminah CD distribution of allegations of recorded conversations obviously did not convince voters to vote for her and instead, transformed her into a comedy act.

Fourthly, campaigners may have to be watchful about what they say during ceramahs if we take into consideration what has happened to MP Lim Kit Siang and MP Gobalakirshnan who are being investigated by the cops regarding what they said during their speeches.

PKR may have won this battle but the sad news is, there is a bigger battle to be fought and the outlook seems to be quite dismal. It is now up to the rakyat and the parliamentarians and elected assemblymen to rise to the occasion. A new strategy, a new approach and more caution and wisdom are definitely needed. What say you?